Visitor Connection San Diego | Page 48

Hit the Road

OC
Suffice it to say that Orange County is
where the saying “when the going gets
tough, the tough go shopping” was coined.
This is platinum card heaven! But as
recent hit TV shows have revealed, shopping isn’t all there is to the O.C. Pristine
beaches, bluff-side mansions, beautiful
people, and fun in the sunshine are also
part of the experience. Approximately
90 minutes north of San Diego, don’t
miss the idyllic seaside towns of Dana
Point, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach,
and Huntington Beach. A meandering,
coastal drive up Highway 101 is the best
way to see upscale surf spots and sample
dazzling beaches, cute shops, art galleries,
restaurants, and more.
● KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Traffic isn’t as much of a problem in the
O.C. as it is in Los Angeles, but planning
for the unexpected will make this day trip
a more pleasant experience. Bring quarters
for meters and tolls. Most major attractions will charge a parking fee.

E

● GETTING THERE:
Orange County is made up of over a
dozen cities and it’s sprawling. So, take a
map and plan to use it to get from one

©iStockphoto.com/William Casey

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ORANGE
COUNTY
attraction to another. Most points of
interest are located just off Interstate 5.
● THINGS TO DO:
Catalina Island
Catch the Catalina Express from Dana
Point, Long Beach, or San Pedro for a 22mile, 1-hour ride to one of the country’s
most romantic spots—just as much of a
“don’t miss” for families and solo adventurers as it is for starry-eyed couples. Tours
and easy-to-strenuous hiking, biking,
kayaking, diving, and snorkeling are readily available.
Disneyland & Disney’s
California Adventure
Sometimes the tried and true attractions
really are the best, and with Disneyland’s
Year of a Million Dreams in full swing,
the rides and shows at these two parks
have never been better.
International Surf Museum
Huntington Beach (also known as Surf
City, USA) is home to a collection of surfing’s greatest artifacts—like Duke Kahanamoku’s surfboards and Dick Dale’s
guitar. [phone].

Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s is the real deal when it comes to
family fun! Experience world-class thrills
on GhostRider—one of the world’s best
wooden coasters, XceleratorSM—launching riders 0-80mph in 2.3 seconds, and
RipTide—a head-over-heals experience!
And don’t miss their newest addition,
Silver Bullet—a suspended coaster that
sends riders into a cobra roll, spiral, corkscrew, and a 105-foot vertical loo f